Braves vs Reds Prediction, Best Bets & Odds (6/23)

Written by: Eddie Griffin

Published: Fri Jun 23, 2023, 7:42 am ET

Read Time: 3 minutes

Braves vs Reds Prediction, Best Bets & Odds (6/23) cover

mlb

FINAL

Atlanta Braves

Cincinnati Reds

See Picks & Statistics For The Game

Another exciting weekend of MLB action is on the horizon, and the must-see matchup on the schedule sees the Atlanta Braves visit the Cincinnati Reds.

Tonight's series opener between the two hottest teams in baseball is set for a 6:40 pm ET start time, and the action will be televised by Bally Sports Southeast and Bally Sports Ohio.

The Reds (40-35, 20-18 home) have won 11 games in a row, and they enter this series with a 1.5-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

The Braves (48-26, 24-11 away) enter this series with eight straight wins and the best record in the National League, and their six-game lead in the NL East is the biggest division lead in the league.

Whose winning streak will continue at Great American Ball Park? Read on for our prediction and best bets for tonight's Braves vs Reds game.

Atlanta Braves vs Cincinnati Reds Odds

Odds are via Bovada as of Friday, June 23, 2023, at 7:40 am ET.

Moneyline

Atlanta Braves -154
Cincinnati Reds +129

Over/Under

Over 11 (+100)
Under 11 (-120)

Run Line

Atlanta Braves -1.5 (+100)
Cincinnati Reds +1.5 (-120)

Pitching Matchup for Braves vs Reds

Atlanta Braves: RHP A.J. Smith-Shawver (3 appearances – 2 starts, 1-0, 2.03 ERA)
Cincinnati Reds: RHP Luke Weaver (11 starts, 1-2, 6.47 ERA)

Can the Reds Continue to Rack Up the Runs to Counter Weaver's Struggles?

Elly de la Cruz Cincinnati Reds Atlanta Braves MLB prediction picks 6/23/23

Scoring has been a big part of why Atlanta and Cincinnati are on fire at the moment. The Braves have scored 65 runs during their eight-game win streak, an average of 8.1 runs per game, while the Reds have scored 68 runs during their 11-game win streak, an average of 6.2 runs per game.

For Cincinnati, that scoring has been especially valuable and necessary when Weaver has been on the mound.

Weaver has allowed four or more runs in seven of his 11 starts this season, including four of his five home starts. At home, he has allowed 21 runs and 29 hits in only 26 innings.

Over his last four starts, Weaver has allowed 18 runs (all earned), 28 hits, and eight walks in 19 innings. Yet the Reds are 4-0 in those four games, as they have scored 28 runs to counter the 23 that have been given up.

Last time out, he allowed five runs and ten hits in five innings at Houston last Sunday, but the Reds rallied for a 9-7, 10-inning win to give Weaver his seventh straight no-decision.

Can he continue to play with fire and not get burned? The Reds have allowed four or more runs in nine of his 11 starts and have compiled a 6-3 record in those games, thanks to scoring five or more runs in all six wins.

It's all a recipe for trouble against Atlanta, however. The Braves have scored four or more runs 53 times in 74 games this season, including every game of their current win streak. They are 44-9 when scoring four or more runs, which includes a 23-3 record when scoring four or more runs on the road.

Atlanta Braves vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction for Braves vs Reds: Braves to win

Best Bets for Braves vs Reds: Braves ML & Braves team total over 6 runs

You have to give the Reds a lot of credit for how they keep finding ways to win. But they have been living pretty dangerously, and I think Weaver's ineffectiveness will finally come back to bite them tonight.

My view lines up well with how others see this matchup playing out. Of our sources for Braves vs Reds picks, 89% favor Atlanta for the win, while over 80% of the public is on Atlanta to make it a fine nine.